Blood present on the runner of an Irish man accused of murdering a Latvian national matched the DNA profile of the deceased, a jury has heard.

Liam Power (52) of no fixed abode is charged with murdering Gints Intembergs (41) at Graigowen, Tullow, Co Carlow between the 15th and 16th of September, 2014.

When arraigned at the Central Criminal Court, Mr Power pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. This plea was not accepted by the State and a jury was sworn in to try him and his co-accused. Mr Power also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Aigar Sildars, causing him harm at the same address and on the same dates.

Dzintars Sackalausks (33) of Barrowvale, Graiguecullen, Co Carlow is also charged with murdering Gints Intembergs at the same address and on the same dates. He pleaded not guilty to the charge. Mr Sackalausks also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Aigar Sildars, causing him harm at the same address and on the same dates.

“There is moderately strong support that the impressions on the deceased’s body were made by the footwear of Mr Power. Maybe Mr Sackalausks didn’t kick Mr Intembergs or there was no observable impressions made if he did kick him,” she said.

The prosecution then called Detective Garda Donal Lawlor from Carlow Garda Station, to give evidence.

Det Gda Lawlor told the court that he went to Shaw Park in Carlow on the afternoon of September 16 as he was aware Mr Power was suspected of being the Irishman involved in the incident.

The court heard Mr Power was in the sitting room of the house and there was “a strong smell of drink off him.”

“He said to me: ‘I was in Tullow last night, things got out of control. I kicked the head off him, look at my runners, shit happens and I lost the head, what can I do, that is all I can say’,” said the witness.

Gardai took possession of a pair of white runners and white socks belonging to Mr Power.

Mr Power told gardai that he used one of his white socks to wash blood-stains from his runner before throwing it out a side window of the house.

This single white sock was then retrieved from on top of a pile of rubbish directly under this window.

The trial continues before Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy and a jury of five men and seven women.